Cynthia Appiah Slides to Monobob Silver at World Cup Season Finale in Norway
LILLEHAMMER, Nor.—Cynthia Appiah saved her best for last, winning her first monobob medal of the World Cup bobsleigh season on Saturday, taking the silver in Lillehammer, Norway.
Appiah broke onto the podium with a two-run time of 1:48.66 down the 16-corner track.
“Finally,” said Appiah at the finish line. “This feels amazing. It’s been a frustrating season for me, similar to last year, waiting until the last World Cup to get on that podium. I’m choosing to look at it as a positive though, and that we are peaking right time before World Championships. There is no better time for this than now.”
It was the 11th monobob podium of Appiah’s career. The 34-year-old hadn’t seen the Canadian flag raised above the podium since last year when she snagged the bronze medal in the final race of the season in Lake Placid, New York.
“It so great seeing the Canadian flag wherever we go, but always awesome to see your flag raised above the podium (especially on National Flag Day),” said Appiah. “Standing on the podium, and watching that flag raised always puts it into perspective how amazing it is to compete for our country, and reassurance that we are so supported by our fellow Canadians back home regardless of our results.”
The Torontonian finished behind Bree Walker on Saturday. The Australian clocked a golden time of 1:48.51. Germany’s Lisa Buckwitz capitalized on top start times in both heats to propel her to the bronze medal at 1:48.67.
Appiah, who had the third and second-fastest start times in her two runs, was in second place after her first blast down the 1,710-metre icy chute. She has found comfort on the Lillehammer track. She was fifth at the rare Norwegian stop one year ago, and sixth last weekend in the first half of the Norwegian double-header to cap off the 2024-25 World Cup monobob season where she finished seventh in the overall standings.
“I really love this track in Lillehammer. It’s a pusher’s track - easy to get down but hard to get down fast. I am able to use my start here to give me an advantage over my competitors in the field. You have to drive what you see, don’t have to be extra cute, push fast, drive well and you will be surprised at the end what you get,” said Appiah.
“I had an extra sense of confidence that I can put it together. Last week was an indication of that. With an extra week of training under my belt here, it gave me the confidence that I can win here.”
Two other Canadian women also slid into the top 15. Melissa Lotholz (Barrhead, Alta.) was seventh at 1:49.20. Rookie pilot, Erica Voss, was 13th in just her second World Cup start. The former ringette player from Toronto posted a combined time of 1:49.68.
The daughter of Ghanian immigrants, Appiah’s season breakthrough comes as Canadians also celebrate Black History Month. Appiah, whose journey into sports began through the Blue Jays Care Foundation outreach initiative where children from under-privileged Toronto neighbourhoods are invited to learn to play baseball at a local park, has been driven to break down barriers proving Olympians are born in all corners of the country regardless background.
“Black history month is a hugely important time of year for me,” added Appiah. “Bobsleigh is one of the more diverse winter sports out there in Canada. There is still lots of work to be done to grow the sport, so all diverse backgrounds are showcased, but it is a sport that provides many avenues for black athletes. We are here pushing the envelope on what the human body can do, and hopefully I can open the doors for many young people behind me to do the same.”
Two Canadian men – Cyrus Gray (Duncan, B.C.) and Shaq Murray-Lawrence (Scarborough, Ont.) also made history on Saturday as the first black pilot-brakeman duo to hit the start line for a World Cup two-man race. Murray Lawrence, a former player in the CFL, pushed Gray to 20th spot in his first World Cup race as a pilot. The Canadian duo chalked up a time of 1:43.83.
“This is a monumental moment for us as well as for all young Black athletes across Canada who aspire to achieve greatness,” said Murray-Lawrence. “Today, we made history, and it is especially meaningful that it happened during Black History Month. I know I’m not the first Black brakeman, but to be part of this first Black duo is incredibly special.”
Two other Canadian men’s sleds finished in the top 15. Taylor Austin (Lethbridge, Alta.) and Mark Zanette (Woodbridge, Ont.) were 13th at 1:42.66. The Ottawa-based tandem of Pat Norton and Mike Evelyn O’Higgins placed 14th with a time off 1:42.73.
The Germans swept the men’s podium. Johannes Lochner and George Fleischhauer took top spot on the podium with a time of 1:40.99. Francesco Friedrich and Felix Straub were second at 1:41.01, while Adam Ammour and Nick Stadelmann completed the sweep with a time of 1:41.19.
The final World Cup races of the season are slated for Sunday with the four-man and two-woman bobsleigh races.
Complete Monobob Results:
https://www.ibsf.org/en/result/504873/?cHash=12194bf9b258f514c3b187a363d07f1a
Complete Two-Man Results:
https://www.ibsf.org/en/result/504868/?cHash=7a184c3c80aa944778e0747aff31cfda
Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Karbon, Athabasca Oil Corporation in collaboration with Canada Actions I Love Energy – along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops champions in the community, on and off the track, who have a passion for bobsleigh and skeleton. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.